Athens Travel Guide

Gay Jesus Shut Down In Athens

Corpus Christi, a play imagining Jesus and the apostles as gay men in Texas was prevented from being played by religious protesters in Athens who have also filed to sue the director and crew for "Blasphemy". Director Laertis Vasilio comments "What I see is that there are people who have robbed the country blind who are not in jail and the prosecutor turns against art."

The play, which imagines Jesus and the Apostles as modern-day gay men in Texas, had drawn violent protests by priests and members of the nationalist party Golden Dawn, Reuters reports.

Dozens of demonstrators, including some from Golden Dawn, blocked the entrance of the theater and clashed with police on the night of its premiere last month.

Bearded black-robed priests holding crosses were shown on television tearing up posters promoting the play. The Orthodox Church is an integral part of Greek society and a powerful institution.